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3 Oct 2023
Main differences between burning and heating tobacco
If you are an adult smoker, you may have wondered about the differences between burning and heating tobacco. It is essential to understand them, because although neither of these ways of smoking tobacco are risk-free, the process of heating tobacco has advantages over burning it, thanks to a number of innovations and technological developments.
In this article, we will explore in depth the different characteristics of each method of tobacco use, and the differences that exist between them.
What is burning tobacco?
Burning tobacco is the most traditional method of consuming tobacco products, such as cigarettes. This process involves the ignition and combustion of dry tobacco at high temperatures, reaching up to 900 degrees Celsius. When combustion occurs, the tobacco releases smoke, which is full of more than 6,000 chemicals, 100 from which are harmful.
When tobacco is burned, it suffers a series of chemical and physical changes. As it is heated, the components of tobacco are broken down and transformed into a mixture of airborne particles. These particles form the smoke that is inhaled.
Toxic components in cigarette smoke
Smoke from burning tobacco is a complex combination of chemicals and particles that are toxic. Some of these harmful components present in tobacco smoke are the following:
Tar
Tar is the residue from smoke after a cigarette has burned. IQOS does not produce tar because it heats tobacco instead of burning it. It generates an aerosol residue that is fundamentally different from tar and consists of significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals.*
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The absence of tar does not mean that IQOS is risk-free. IQOS provides nicotine which is addictive
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Cigarettes burn tobacco, which produces high amounts of carbon monoxide. IQOS doesn’t burn tobacco, producing on average 98% less carbon monoxide (CO) and significantly lower levels of other harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes*.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This does not mean a 98% reduction in risk IQOS is not risk-free, and delivers nicotine which is addictive.
What is tobacco heating?
Heating tobacco is a different and relatively new way of consuming tobacco, a less aggressive and much more controlled process than the traditional method of burning tobacco.
To heat tobacco, it is essential to have an IQOS tobacco heating device. These devices have been designed and developed with the unique SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™ and IQOS HeatControl™ technologies, which heat the tobacco to a controlled temperature, through an induction process, without actually combusting.
Advantages of heating tobacco instead of burning it
One of the main advantages of heating tobacco with IQOS is a considerable risk reduction as compared to burnt tobacco. By avoiding combustion, the formation of tar and many of the toxic substances present in traditional cigarette smoke is prevented.
IQOS ILUMA releases, on average, 95% lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes*.
Important information: This does not necessarily imply a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS ILUMA is not risk-free.
*Average reductions in the levels of a number of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to a reference cigarette smoke.
Based on scientific studies conducted with manufacturer's heating tobacco units designed for IQOS ILUMA.
IQOS devices for heating tobacco
As awareness of the risks associated with burnt tobacco has increased, tobacco heating has gained popularity as a potentially harmless alternative for adult smokers.
Thanks to technological advances developed by Philip Morris International scientists, IQOS tobacco heating devices have become a better, but not risk-free, alternative for adult smokers who otherwise would still be using tobacco.
If you are looking for a better alternative to the traditional consumption of tobacco, explore the latest models of IQOS ILUMA devices, choose the one that better adapts to you and start living a non-combustion experience.